Q. Consider the following statements regarding Nathpanthis, Siddhacharas and Yogis:
- To them the path to salvation lay in meditation and the realisation of oneness with it.
- They became popular among every caste of the Indian society.
Which of the above is / are correct?
Answer:
Only 1
Notes: A number of religious groups that emerged during this period criticised the ritual and other aspects of conventional religion and the social order, using simple, logical arguments. Among them were the Nathpanthis, Siddhacharas and Yogis. They advocated renunciation of the world. To them the path to salvation lay in meditation on the formless Ultimate Reality and the realisation of oneness with it. To achieve this they advocated intense training of the mind and body through practices like yogasanas, breathing exercises and meditation. These groups became particularly popular among “low” castes. Their criticism of conventional religion created the ground for devotional religion to become a popular force in northern India.